WHEREAS wee are very credibly giuen to vnderstand, by a Certificate vnder the hands of our trusty and welbe loued Subiects Sir Iohn Tasburgh, and Sir Anthony Drury Knights, Anthony Hobart, Owen Shepheard, Iohn Smith, and Ieffery Warde Esquires, Iustices of the Peace within our County of Norfolke, That our poore distressed Subject Thomas Peeke of the Towne of Lodden, in our fore said County Husband­man, hath heretofore boene a man of good estate and account, and one that all his life time liued in good sort and reputation amongst his neighbours, but so it is that he is now fallen into great want and pouerty, by reason of a sodaine and fearefull Fire happing on the Eight and twentieth day of March last past, in the night time (through the negligence of a lewde and idle Seruant) which consumed and burnt downe to the ground his dwelling House, and other houses of office▪ houshold stuffe, Corne of diuers kindes, prouision of houshold and other Commodities, and some Writings of great moment, amounting in all the whole losse to the value of Three hundred pounds, to the vtter vndoing of our said poore Subiect, who was heretofore a Farmer of about a hundred pound a yeare, and able to maintaine his charge of Wife, Children and family in good credit and fashion and to giue reliefe vnto others: but so miserable is his estate now, that he is not able to helpe himselfe, but being lyable to rebuild his said House againe, is likely to continue the rest of his dayes in great misery, vnlesse some charitable course be forthwith taken for his reliefe herein, whose miserable and poore estate wée much pitty, and haue thought good vpon the humble request of all our foresaid Iustices made vnto Vs in his behalfe, to commend the same vnto the charitable consideration of all our louing and weldisposed Subiects within certaine Counties hereafter mentioned, not doubting but that all good Christians well weighing the premises, will be ready and willing as féeling members one of anothers miserie, to ex­tend their charitable contributions towards his reliefe and Comfort of their poore distressed Brother, in this his great necessity.

KNOW yee therefore, of Our especiall Grace and Princely compassion We haue giuen and granted, and by these our Letters Patents doe giue and graunt, vnto our said poore Subiect Thomas Peeke, and to his Deputy and Deputies, the bearer or bearers hereof, full power, licence, and Authority, to aske, gather, receiue and take the Almes and charitable beneuolence of all our louing Sub­iects whatsoeuer, In habiting within our Counties of Norfolke, Suffolke, Essex Hertford, Kent, Middles [...]x, Cambridge and Surrey, with our Citty of Norwich, and in our Citties of Canterbury, Rochester, and the Cinque Portes, with our Citty of Westminster, and Borough of Southwarke, with our Vniuersity of Cambridge, and Isle of Ely, And in all other Cities, Townes Corporate, Priuiledged places, Pa­rishes, Villages, and in all other places whatsoeuer within our said Counties, and not else where, for and towards the recouery of his said losse, and the reliefe and maintenance of himselfe, and his poore Wife and Chidren.

WHEREFORE wée will and Commaund you and euery of you, that at such time and times, as the said Thomas Peeke, or his Deputy or Deputies, the bearer or bearers hereof, shall come & repaire vnto any your Churches, Chappels, or other places, to aske and receiue the gratuities and charitable beneuolence of our said Subiects, quietly to permit and suffer them so to doe, without any man­ner your lets or contradictions, And you the said Parsons, Vicars, and Curats, for the better stirring vp of a charitable deuotion, delibe­rately to publish and declare the Tenor of these our Letters Patents, vnto our said Subiects vpon some Sabaoth day, when as the same shall be tendered vnto you. Exhorting and perswading them to extend their liberall coutributions in so good and charitable a deed. And you the Churchwardens of euery Parish, where such Collection is to be made (as aforesaid) to Collect and gather the Almes and chari­table beneuolence of all our louing Subiects, aswell Strangers as others: and what shall be by you so gathered, to deliuer it to the bearer or bearers of these our Letters Patents and to no other person, when as thereunto you shalbe required. And lastly, whereas we are in­formed of the great abuse which is now crept in amongst these poore people, who sell their Lycences vnto some other other person, whereby mens charity goeth not the right may, but vnto such as deserue it least: That from henceforth our will and pleasure is, that if it may ap­peare vnto you or any of you that the said Thomas Peeke, haue contracted any bargaine, or made or shall make sale of these our Letters Patents, whereby the benefit should passe from him to any other person, That thereupon these our Letters Patents shall be voide and of none effect. Any Statute, Law, Ordinance, or Prouision, heretofore made to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

IN witnesse whereof, Wée haue caused these our Letters to be made Patents for the space of One whole yeare next after the date hereof to endure.